When Reporters Are the News

It’s Reporter Versus Reporter. UNC-TV versus UNC Radio. And the best drama of the legislative session.
 
Senator Fletcher Hartsell’s inspired idea to subpoena UNC-TV’s unaired Alcoa story stirred up great mischief. It:

  • Put Alcoa in an unwelcome spotlight
  • Put UNC-TV in an unwelcome spotlight
  • Put a UNC radio reporter at odds with a UNC-TV.
UNC Radio’s Laura Leslie took UNC-TV reporter Eszter Vajda to task:

“Vajda claimed in her affidavit that she has decided to cooperate ‘without waiving my right to exercise my journalist’s privilege.’ That’s like deciding to have a car wreck without waiving your good driver’s discount.  You can’t have it both ways.”

Then Leslie zeroed in on Vajda’s bosses at the station:
 
“I’m still wondering how half-hour segments on local golf clubs, botanical gardens, and the AndyGriffithMuseum rated higher on UNC-TV’s priority list than allegations of contamination in one of NC’s most popular lakes.  The station had the resources to air all those segments in May, but nothing on Alcoa.  So help me out here.”
 
Plus, Leslie blasted UNC-TV for “(rolling) over in record time with barely a whimper” to the subpoena.
 
This year’s Press Corps Follies should be interesting.
 
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Gary Pearce

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When Reporters Are the News

It’s Reporter Versus Reporter. UNC-TV versus UNC Radio. And the best drama of the legislative session.
 
Senator Fletcher Hartsell’s inspired idea to subpoena UNC-TV’s unaired Alcoa story stirred up great mischief. It:

  • Put Alcoa in an unwelcome spotlight
  • Put UNC-TV in an unwelcome spotlight
  • Put a UNC radio reporter at odds with a UNC-TV.
UNC Radio’s Laura Leslie took UNC-TV reporter Eszter Vajda to task:

“Vajda claimed in her affidavit that she has decided to cooperate ‘without waiving my right to exercise my journalist’s privilege.’ That’s like deciding to have a car wreck without waiving your good driver’s discount.  You can’t have it both ways.”

Then Leslie zeroed in on Vajda’s bosses at the station:
 
“I’m still wondering how half-hour segments on local golf clubs, botanical gardens, and the AndyGriffithMuseum rated higher on UNC-TV’s priority list than allegations of contamination in one of NC’s most popular lakes.  The station had the resources to air all those segments in May, but nothing on Alcoa.  So help me out here.”
 
Plus, Leslie blasted UNC-TV for “(rolling) over in record time with barely a whimper” to the subpoena.
 
This year’s Press Corps Follies should be interesting.
 
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Gary Pearce

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